Pittsburgh Pirates OF Steve Pearce eliminated the leg kick in his swing roughly a week ago in order to simplify his mechanics at the plate, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. "You don't want to take away what's natural but you definitely want to be simplified, so things can be maintained very easily," hitting coach Gregg Ritchie said. "There is a magnitude of things that it's going to accomplish. He is seeing the ball bigger, eliminating the strikeouts, putting the ball in play and hitting the ball on the money." Pearce is feeling good and has reached base in five of his last eight spring at-bats. He is competing with 3Bs Garrett Atkins, Andy Marte and Josh Fields for a corner utility role.

Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Jeff Clement is a long shot to make the big league roster out of Spring Training now that the team has 1B Garrett Atkins, 1B Lyle Overbay, OF Steve Pearce, 3B Andy Marte and 3B Josh Fields, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. "You don't want to ever say a player has missed it," general manager Neal Huntington said of Clement. "The potential is still there. We have seen the raw power. We still see the things that we liked when we acquired him as part of the five players that we got from Seattle. But there may be some things out of his control."

Updating previous reports, Pittsburgh Pirates 1B/3B Garrett Atkins will make $25,000 for 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances and $50,000 for 425, 450, 475 and 500 plate appearances, MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports. He'll receive $100,000 for winning the MVP, $100,000 for finishing second and $75,000 for coming in third. He'll also receive $25,000 if he's the MVP of any playoff series, $25,000 for a Gold Glove, $50,000 for a Silver Slugger, $25,000 for making the All-Star team and $250,000 if he's named Comeback Player of the Year. If he's not on the 25-man roster April 1 or June 1, he can request his release.

The Baltimore Orioles are expected to release 1B Garrett Atkins Tuesday, July 6, after he was designated for assignment June 27, according to The Baltimore Sun's Dan Connolly. The team will be on the hook for the rest of Atkins' contract.

Baltimore Orioles 1B Garrett Atkins said he would have no interest in reporting to Triple-A Norfolk if he clears waivers and is not traded, reports Jeff Zrebiec, of The Baltimore Sun. He said he may be open to playing in the minor leagues as part of another organization depending on the team.